Draft device



June 9, 1942. w. w. sLoANE DRAFT DEVICE Filed April 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1942.

DRAFTYDEVICE Filed April 19, 1939 3 sheets-shea 5 l@ Q, Sw,

- Patented June 9, 1942 STTS zeile DRAFT DEVICE Application April 19, 1939, Serial No. 268,678

(Cl. 10d-235) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in draftrdevices, and more particularly relates to improvements'in such devices adapted to propel a remotely controlled car or like devicefin mines underground.

It has heretofore been theY practiceV to use relatively large conveyer cars for hauling coal in mines underground. These cars are usually loaded at the face by hand or by a mobile loader and are moved to the entry or unloading'station by power, under remote control. Flexible cables and power driven winding `drums have been found to be the most practical meansfor hauling such cars underground, but difficulty has been encountered in controlling the speed of the 1 car alongan undulating roadway. The princi- .pal reasons are that since a man cannot be at the car to brake its speed, it tends'to travel down grade at a greater rate of` speed than the winding speed of the propelling winding drum. 'This to hold the other cable under tension, to hold thecar back while going down grade and thus Aprevent the formation of slack on the draft cable.

More specifically, the objects of my invention are to provide a novel and improved form of draft means'for a remotely controlled car, including two winding drums, each of which has a flexible draft cable Wound thereon, and including a means to prevent the formation of slack on the pulling or Ydraft cable, when the car is going down grade, which is so arranged that tension en the draft cable will release a holding means from the unwinding drum an amount suflicient to permit paying off. its associated cable, but prevent the free rotation of said unwindlng drum, and the release of tension on the draft cable will cause an increase in tension on the trailing cable, which will slow the .car down to such an extent that the draft cable is under tension regardlessA of whether the car is traveling along the level orldown grade.

'Other objects of my invention willl appear from time to time. as the accompanying specification proceeds.

My invention may be -more'clearly understood fill said car. lconveyor type, mounted on trackwheels I5, I5 y and having a chain flight conveyor I1 extending drive either of said windingv drums.

with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a carhaving a Vdraft device constructed in accordance with my invention associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in side elevation of the device shown in Figure` 1, drawntoan enlarged scale;

Figure is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of a portion of the car shown in Figure 1, with parts of the draft device broken awa-yand Vother parts shown in horizontal section, in orderto more clearly-illustrate certain detailsof my invention;

Figure 4 is a View somewhat similarto Figure 2, with the parts positioned differently than in Figure 2- and vdrawn -to .an enlarged scale, vand showing certain partsbroken away and certain other parts longitudinal section;

Figure 5 11s-a transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 5--5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 6 6 OfFi-gure 4.

In the drawings, the-embodimentofmy invention illustrated is shown- -as including a pair lof winding drums Ill, I-, herein shown as being vmounted-on a car Il, `and having flexible cables I2, I2 Wound thereon and adapted to be attached at their ends* to Xed -abutments,for propelling Said car, as herein shown, is of the alongY the bottom thereof. Said caris somewhat similar tot-hat illustrated in Patent No. 2,143,522, which issued to T. F. McCarthy on January 10, 1939, so will only vbe described inf so far as is necessary to make my present invention clearly understandable. Y v

The winding drums IQ, l are mounted on the car l i on parallel spaced transverse shafts I3, I8. SaidV shafts aremounted at one of their ends on an upright 'frame member I9 extending yalong one side of the conveyer, and at theiropposite ends on a parallel laterally spaced upright frame member 26 (see lFigure 6) A transverse shaft 2l, disposed parallelV to and intermediate the shafts I8, I8, is provided to Said shaft is driven from a motor 2li, mounted on-the conveyer frame, through a speed reducer'25 and a chain and sprocket drive '26 (see Figures 1 and 2). A pair of spaced apart spur gears 23, 23 are freely mounted on said shaft and are selectively connected therewith by means of a clutch 33. One of said spur gears is disposed adjacent fthe frame member I9 and meshes with and drives an annular gear 3l, secured to the inside flange of one winding drum Ill. The other of said spur gears is disposed adjacent the frame member 2li, and meshes with another annular gear 3|, secured to the outside flange of the other winding drum I0.

The clutch 33, as herein shown, includes an externally splined member 34 keyed on said shaft between the spur gears 23, 23, and having an internally splined clutch member 35 mounted thereon for slidable movement therealong. Said clutch member is shifted along the member 34 by a suitable arrangement of links and levers so that the internal splines of said clutch member may selectively engage splined hubs 36, 33 of either of the spur gears 23, 23 (see Figure 3).

Referring now in particular to the novel form of holding device for holding the winding drums l0, I from rotation in an unwinding direction, and the arrangement whereby tension of the draft cable serves to release the braking means on the unwinding drum a predetermined amount, to permit the trailing cable to be paid on of said unwinding drum under tension and to hold the draft cable under tension at all times, a brake drum 39 adapted to be engaged by a brake band 49, is journaled on each transverse shaft I8, adjacent the inside of the frame member 25. One of said brake drums has an inwardly extending flanged portion 4I which extends within a flanged portion 42 of one winding drum l0 (see Figure 6). The other brake drum has a similar fianged portion which extends within the annular gear 3l of the other winding drum. Since thc construction and arrangement of the braking means and the means under control of cable tension on the Winding drum for releasing the braking means from or permitting said braking means to be applied to the trailing drum, is similar for both drums, the same part numbers will be applied to the braking and releasing mechanism for each drum and said mechanism for one drum only will herein be described in detail.

The flanged portion 4| of the brake drum 39 has a ratchet 43, which is herein shown as being formed integral therewith, and which is adapted to be engaged by either one of a pair of oppositely disposed spring pressed pawls 44, 44, mounted on the inner periphery of the anged portion 42 on pivotal pins 45, 45. Said pins are each secured at their ends to a bracket member 4B. Said bracket members extend inwardly from opposite sides of the flange 42. Said paWl and ratchet thus permit rotation of the winding drum I0 in a winding direction when the brake drum 39 is held from rotation, but prevent rotation thereof in an unwinding direction.

The friction band 4D is engaged with or disengaged from the brake drum 39 by means of an operating lever 50, having pivotal connection with a lug l projecting from one end of said friction band. Said operating lever is pivotally mounted on the frame member 20 on a transverse pivotal pin 53. A lever arm 54 of said operating lever extends outwardly from the pivotal axis thereof and has a rod 55 pivotally connected to the free end thereof. Said rod extends in a direction away from the two drums I0, I0 and is slidably guided in a bracket member 55. A preloaded compression spring 59 is herein shown as encircling the end of said rod opposite from the lever arm 54 and is interposed between the bracket 56 and an abutment member 58 on the end of said rod.

The opposite end of the friction band 40 is held from movement by means of a bell crank 6l, which has one of its lever arms pivotally connected to a lug 5E) extending from said friction band. Said bell crank is pivotally mounted on the frame member 20 on a pivotal pin 64. A threaded eye bolt 65 is pivotally connected to the other lever arm of said bell crank. Said eye bolt extends through a stop 61 and has a pair of nuts 59, '69 threaded thereon and abutting opposite sides of said stop, to hold said rod and bell crank from movement, and to form a means for adjusting said friction band on its associated brake drum. An abutment member 'i0 is threaded on the end of said rod and held in fixed relation with respect thereto by means of a nut ll. Said abutment member is adapted to engage the lever arm 54 of the operating lever 50, opposite from the drum to which said abutment has connection, and form an adjustable stop to limit movement of the operating lever 50 and thus limit the extent to which the friction band 40 can be disengaged from its respective brake drum. The spring 59 thus serves to hold the friction band 4U in engagement with the brake drum 39 to hold said brake drum from rotation, and hold the associated winding drum from rotation in an unwinding direction.

Referring now to the novel arrangement whereby tension on one cable I2, as it is being wound on its associated winding drum I0, will release the friction band 40 from the brake drum 39 for the other winding drum l0, to permit rotation of said winding drum in a direction to pay oif cable therefrom against a predetermined frictional resistance, but release of tension on said cable as it is being wound on its associated drum will cause said friction band to be applied to the trailing winding drum and retard the speed of the car to such an extent as to keep the draft cable under tension, a bell crank member 'I3 is mounted on the transverse shaft I8. One lever arm 'I4 of said bell crank member extends angularly away from said shaft in the direction cable is to be payed from said drum, which is towards the front of the car from one drum and towards the rear of the car from the other drum. Said lever arm is of a U-shaped formation in plan, ex-

tending around the winding drum l0 and having its free -end also journaled on the shaft IB (see Figures 1 and 3). A roller 'l5 is rotatably mounted adjacent the closed end of said arm between the sides thereof. Another lever arm 16 of said bell crank extends in a direction, which in Figure 4 is shown as being in an upward direction for the forward or right hand bell crank, and in a downward direction for the rear or left hand bell crank. A link 11 is provided to connect said last mentioned lever arm with the lever arm 54 of the operating lever 5B, associated with the friction band controlling the winding drum I0, opposite from the winding drum with which said bell crank is associated.

The cable I2 is trained from its associated winding drum I9 around the roller 'l5 in a direction away from said roller, which on the right hand drum in Figure 4 is a downward and forward direction, and on the left hand drum in the same figure is an upward and rearward direction, and then around a roller 79, and away from said roller to a point remote from the car, at which point the end of said cable may be secured. Thus, when one winding drum is rotating in a winding direction, and its cable is attached to a xed abutment at its free end, to

pull the car towards said abutment, tension of said cable will pivot the bell crank 'i3 in a clockwise direction. This will move the operating lever 50 against the spring 59 through the link 11, and move the friction band 40 in a direction to release it from its associated brake drum 39 a predetermined amount, to permit rotation of said winding drum in an unwinding direction. When the car tends to coast down grade, the driving cable will tend to slacken, which will permit the spring 59 to apply the friction band 40 to the brake drum 39, which controls rotation of the unwinding drum. This will cause the trailing cable to retard the car, and equalize the speed of the car with that of the winding drum.

In order to prevent free rotation of either winding drum I0, when it is paying off cable, the abutment member 'l0 is provided to limit movement of the lever arm 54. The amount that the friction band 49 is released from its associated brake drum may thus be regulated by adjusting the position of said abutment member on the threaded rod S5, to permit release of said friction band from its associated brake drum an amount sufficient to permit rotation of said winding drum under a predetermined frictional resistance.

It may accordingly .be seen that a novel form of draft and control means for a remotely controlled car has been provided, which is controlled by tension on the draft cable so that as cable is wound on one drum Vand the tension thereof reaches a predetermined value, this cable will release a holding means from the opposite drum an amount sufficient to permit cable to be payed therefrom under the control of friction, and thus hold the draft and paying off cables under tension at all times, and prevent slack from forming in the draft cable and minimize the tendency for said draft cable to foul or be run over by the car wheels, when the car is traveling down grade. Y

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied,

it will be understood that the `construction therea tarding device, separate holding means for each drum, for holding each drum from rotation in an unwinding direction, and means engaged by the draft cable and actuated by tension thereof, for releasing said holding means from the retarding drum a predetermined amount, or permitting said holding means to be applied thereto upon release of tension in said draft cable, to-

maintain both `cables under tension, including a pair of pivoted members, one of said pivoted members being associated with one drum and the other being associated with the other drum, a connection from each of said pivoted members to the holding means for the drum opposite from the drum with Which said pivoted member is associated, and an operative connection between said flexible cables and said associated pivoted members.

3. In a draft device, a frame, two winding drums mounted on said frame, each of said winding drums being adapted to have a flexible of and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specie embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may i;

be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a draft device, a frame, two winding drums mounted on said frame, a flexible cable adapted to be wound on each of said drums,

means for selectively driving either of said drums, one of said drums being adapted to serve as a propelling drum and the other of said drums being adapted to serve as a retarding drum,

separate friction means associated with each of e;

said drums, for retarding rotation thereof in an unwinding direction, and means mounted on said frame and engaged by the propelling cable and having operative connection with the retarding means for the retarding drum and actu- 'i to serve alternately as a draft device and a recable wound thereon, and each being adapted to serve alternately as a draft device and a retarding device, separate holding means for each drum, for holding each drum from rotation in an unwinding direction, and means engaged by the draft cable and actuated by tension thereof, for releasing said holding means from the retarding drum or permitting said holding means to be applied thereto upon release of tension on said draft cable including a pair of bell cranks, one of said bell cranks being associated with one drum and the other being associated with the other drum, an operative connection from one arm of each of said bell cranks to said holding means for the drum opposite from the drum with which said bell crank is associated, and a connection from said flexible members to the other arms of said bell cranks, for pivotally moving said bell cranks in a direction to release said holding means from the unwinding drum, upon a predetermined tension in said associated cable when the associated cable engaging said arm is being wound in and is acting as a draft device.

4.-. In a draft device for a car or like apparatus, a frame, two winding drums mounted on said fraine, a iiexible cable adapted to be wound on or payed oif of each of said Winding drums, means for selectively driving either of said winding drums, one of said drums and cables being adapted to serve as a draft device and the other of said drums and cables 'being adapted to serve as a retarding device, separate braking means for each of said winding drums for holding said winding drums from rotation in an unwinding direction, and means mounted on said frame and engaged by the draft cable and actuated by tension thereof, for releasing said braking means from the retarding drum or permitting said braking means to be applied thereto upon the release of tension in said draft cable, to maintain both cables under tension and to prevent the formation of slack in the draft cable when the car is traveling down grade.

5. In a draft device, two flexible cables, a frame, two winding drums mounted on said frame, each of said winding drums being adapted to wind in or pay off one of said cables, means for selectively driving either one of said winding drums in a winding direction, separate braking means for each of said winding drums for holding said winding drums vfrom rotation in an unrwinding direction, yieldable means for applying said braking means, and means mounted on said frame and actuated by tension of the cable on the drum which serves as the winding drum and acting against said yeldable means which applies the braking means to the drum which serves as the unwinding drum, for releasing said braking means from said unwinding drum or permitting said braking means to be applied thereto to prevent the formation of slack on either the take-up or paying-off cable, including a separate pivoted member associated with each drum, a connection from one of said cables to one of said pivoted members, an operative connection from said pivoted member to said braking means on said other drum, for releasing said `braking means, and an adjustable stop for` limiting the amount of release of said braking means from said drum.

6. In a vehicle propelling device, a car, tWo winding drums mounted on said car, each being adapted to serve alternately as a draft drum and a retarding drum, for reversely propelling the car, a flexible cable on each winding drum and adapted to be wound on or payed off therefrom, said cables being adapted to extend in opposite directions from said car and have their free ends attached to fixed abutments remote from said car, means for selectively driving said drums, braking means for each drum, for holding each drum from rotation in an unwinding direction, and means mounted on said car and actuated by tension of the draft cable for releasing said braking means from said retarding drum an amount sufficient to permit rotation of said drum in an unwinding direction, but to provide suicient drag on said drum to prevent the formation of slack in the retarding cable, and permitting said braking means to be applied to said retarding drum upon the slackening of tension of said draft cable, to permit the retarding drum to hold the car when traveling down grade, including a pair of pivoted members, one of said pivoted members being associated With the draft drum and engaged by the cable of that drum and having operative connection with the braking means of the retarding drum and the other of said pivoted members being associated with the retarding drum and engaged by the cable of that drum and having operative connection with the braking means of the draft drum to permit reverse operation of said drums.

'7. In a vehicle propelling device, a car, two winding drums mounted on said car, each being adapted to serve alternately as a draft drum and a retarding drum, for reversely propelling the car, a flexible cable on each winding drum and adapted to be wound on or payed oif therefrom, said cables being adapted to extend in opposite directions from said car and have their free ends attached to fixed abutments remote from said car, means for selectively driving said drums, braking means for each drum for holding each drum from rotation in an unwinding direction, and means mounted on said car and actuated by tension of the draft cable for releasing said braking means from said retarding drum an amount sufcient to permit rotation of said drum in an unwinding direction, but to provide suiiicient drag on said drum to prevent the formation of slack in the retarding cable, and permitting said braking means to be applied to said retarding drum upon the slackening of tension of said draft cable, to permit the retarding drum to hold the car when traveling down grade, including two bell crank members, one of said bell crank members being associated with the draft drum and having a lever arm engaged by the cable of that drum and having another lever arm having operative connection with the braking means for the retarding drum, and the other of said bell crank members being associated with the retarding drum and having a lever arm engaged by the cable of that drum and having operative connection with the braking means of the draft drum, to permit reverse operation of said drums.

8. In a vehicle propelling device, a frame, two winding drums mounted on said frame, each of said winding drums being adapted to have a exible cable wound thereon, said cables extending in opposite directions from their respective drums and adapted to have their free ends attached to xed abutments remote from said winding drums, means for selectively driving either of said winding drums in a winding direction, separate braking means for each of said winding drums, for holding said winding drums from rotation in an unwinding direction, yieldable means mounted on said frame for applying said braking means, and means engaged by the cable on the winding drum and actuated by tension thereof and acting against said yeldable means which applies the braking means on the unwinding drum, for releasing said braking means from the unwinding drum an amount sufficient to permit said drum to pay off its associated cable, but to provide a predetermined drag on said drum, to prevent the formation of slack in said cable as it is being unwound therefrom, and permitting said braking means to be applied to said unwinding drum upon the slackening of tension of said draft cable, whereby said unwinding drum may serve to maintain the draft cable under tension.

9. In a vehicle propelling device, a frame, two winding drums mounted on said frame, each of said winding drums being adapted to have a flexible cable wound thereon, said cables extending in opposite directions from their respective drums and adapted to have their free ends attached to fixed abutments remote from said winding drums, means for selectively driving either of said winding drums in a winding direction, separate braking means for each of said winding drums, for holding said winding drums from rotation in an unwinding direction, yeldable means mounted on said frame for applying said braking means, and means engaged by the cable on the winding drum and actuated by tension thereof and acting against said yeldable means which applies the braking means on the unwinding drum for releasing said braking means from the unwinding drum an amount suflicient to permit said drum to pay off its associated cable, but to provide a predetermined drag on said drum, to prevent the formation of slack in said cable as it is being unwound therefrom and permitting said braking means to be applied to said unwinding drum upon the slackening of tension of said draft cable, whereby said unwinding drum may serve to maintain the draft cable under tension, said means for releasing said braking means including a separate pivoted member associated with each drum, an operative connection from one cable to said associated pivoted member, and a connection from said pivoted member to said braking means on said other drum.

10. In a vehicle propelling device, a frame, two Winding drums mounted on said frame, each of said winding drums being adapted to have a flexible cable Wound thereon, said cables extending in opposite directions from their respective drums and adapted to have their free ends attached to ixed abutments remote from said winding drums, means for selectively driving either of said winding drums in a winding direction, separate braking means for each of said winding drums, for holding said winding drums from rotation in an unwinding direction, yieldable means mounted on said frame for applying said braking means, and means actuated by tension of the cable on the Winding drum and acting against said yieldable means which applies the braking means on the unwinding drum, for releasing said braking means from the unwinding drum an amount sufficient to permit said drum to pay oif its associated cable, but to provide a predetermined drag on said drum, to prevent the formation of slack in said cable as it is being unwound therefrom and permitting said braking means to be applied to said unwinding drum upon the slackening of tension of said winding cable, whereby said unwinding drum may serve to maintain the draft cable under tension, said means for releasing said braking means including a separate bell crank associated with each drum, a connection from one of said cables to one arm of said bell crank, and

a connection from the other arm of said bell crank to said braking means of said other drum.

11. In a vehicle propelling device, a car, two winding drums mounted on said car, each of said winding drums being adapted to have a flexible cable Wound thereon, said cables being adapted to extend in opposite directions from said car and to be attached to fixed abutments remote from said car, one of said drums and cables being adapted to propel said car and said other drum and cable being adapted to retard said car and prevent it from over-running the propelling cable, separate retarding means associated with each of said drums, for retarding rotation of said drums in an unwinding direction, and means mounted on said car and engaged by the cable on the propelling drum and actuated by tension thereof, for releasing said retarding means from the retarding drum and permitting said retarding means to be applied to said retarding drum upon the release of tension on said propelling cable.

WILLIAM W. SLOANE. 

